CLC Space is currently recruiting an EPS-SG VII Scientist to provide consultancy support at their client’s headquarters in Darmstadt, Germany.
Please note that the start date for this position is as soon as possible.
JOB DESCRIPTION
To provide a Science consultancy to the European Polar System Second Generation Programme. Scientific on-site consultancy is sought to contribute to the development of product processing facilities of the EUMETSAT Polar System Second Generation (EPS-SG) ground segment.
You will provide consultancy in the area of optical imaging for prototyping activities and support to algorithm prototyping, generation of product generation specifications, calibration-validation plans, test data and performance budgets. Your expertise includes radiative transfer in the visible to infrared range, remote sensing techniques, knowledge of geophysical validation and strong programming skills.
TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The activities will include scientific aspects related to the development of the product processing functions of the VII mission in the EPS-SG ground segment.
You will provide consultancy to the Remote Sensing and Products Division of the Technical and Science Support Department.
The tasks will include:
• Prototyping, validation (using proxy data) and scientific development of product generation functions;
• Refinement of product generation specifications;
• Refinement of product contents and format specifications;
• Refinement of auxiliary data specifications;
• Preparation of test data;
• Preparation of calibration-validation plans;
• Contribution to the generation of performance budgets;
• System meetings and activities of instrument functional chain teams (IFCT)1;
1 (The IFCT addresses the instrument chains in an interdisciplinary end-to-end fashion, i.e. from ingestion of radiance or other signals by an instrument up to the conversion of the data into products to be delivered to users.)
• Participation in ground segment and/or instrument reviews, progress and technical meetings.
The consultancy will involve close cross-divisional interactions and interface with experts in various disciplines (system engineering, instruments, ground segment, operations, science). The VII level 2 (geophysical) products are to be generated, with the exception of the cloud masking procedure which will be based on threshold techniques, using 1DVar (aka Optimal Estimation) algorithms that employ direct use of fast radiative transfer models. The products include cloud and atmospheric humidity parameters. Baseline algorithms are specified and will be incrementally implemented as part of the PDAP procurement during the period of this support consultancy.
Working in parallel to this, the consultancy will support a focus on algorithm prototyping, using simulated and real proxy VII observations, validation and scientific analysis that may lead to updates to the algorithm specifications and methods. The work will be carried out in an existing bespoke test environment which is predominantly coded in the IDL language – object oriented for the framework and procedural for the algorithms. These activities are being complemented by studies performed by research institutions, the results of which will also likely lead to modifications and updates. Updates will be integrated in an efficient and cost effective way into the PDAP procurement or deferred to so-called ‘day-2’ algorithms depending on the magnitude of the changes.
The tasks will be carried out mainly at EUMETSAT facilities in Darmstadt, but travel within Europe may be required for certain activities.
YOUR PROFILE
You shall have the following experience and background:
• University degree in remote sensing, meteorology, oceanography, physics, or equivalent;
• At least three years of proven experience in the field of optical remote sensing in one or more of the areas listed in section 3;
• A good understanding of visible and infrared atmospheric radiative transfer including in the presence of clouds and aerosols.
• Experience with the NWPSAF community fast radiative transfer model RTTOV (Version 11 or above);
• A good understanding and preferably direct experience of 1DVar inversion techniques.
• A good understanding and preferably direct experience of cloud detection algorithms for meteorological imaging instruments.
• Good skills with procedural- and a working knowledge of object oriented-IDL programming;
• Fluency in command-line use on Linux/Unix platforms;
• Skills in writing scientific/technical documents, in particular using Microsoft Office;
• Working knowledge of source code version control, preferably SVN;
• Familiarity with NetCDF data format;
• Good inter-personal skills in support of team work;
The following experience would be an additional asset:
• Good skills in a high-level, compiled programming language, such as Fortran, C/C++, Java;
• Experience in understanding and specifying requirements;
• Experience with the specification, development and validation of satellite data processing chains;
• Experience with calibration and product validation methods;
You shall be able to conduct all activities in an orderly and disciplined manner, shall be able to work calmly and correctly under stress and must be able to work without supervision. You are expected to support a team and may be called upon to present your work, therefore good communication skills are a necessity.
The official languages are English and French. The working language for the position is English and therefore the key person must be able to work effectively in this language.